Clutching his newly acquired sword, Lin Qiye stepped out of the mysterious ruin with an aura that felt far sharper than before. The blade trembled slightly in his hand, as if adapting to this newfound power alongside him. He pressed forward along the edge of the mountains, his mind racing with thoughts of how to further elevate himself to face the upcoming, more brutal confrontation with the Gods.
Along the way, he encountered quite a few wandering monsters. Those entities that had once posed a formidable threat in his eyes were now as fragile as ants under the edge of his sword. Every swing of the blade brought a brilliant arc of sword light, instantly cutting down the monsters and reducing them to fine dust. Yet, there was not a trace of complacency on Lin Qiye's face—only a growing, solemn gravity. He knew deeply that these were merely trivial obstacles on his path of vengeance, and that the true enemies still lurked far ahead, watching him with predatory eyes.
As he crossed a desolate desert, the scorching sun hung high, baking the earth like an open flame. The sand was scalding, and every step felt as though it would melt the soles of his shoes. Lin Qiye remained completely oblivious, his gaze drawn to a flurry of dust kicked up in the distance. Amidst the swirling sand, faint sounds of combat and angry shouts drifted over. One of those voices made his heartbeat violently stutter—it was a voice painfully familiar to him, belonging to his close friend from before the catastrophe: Shen Qingzhu.
Without a moment's hesitation, he bolted toward the dust storm at lightning speed. When he charged into the haze, the sight before him filled him with burning rage. Shen Qingzhu was covered in blood, surrounded and besieged by a pack of giant, scorpion-like monsters. The stings on their tails flashed with a toxic luster as they launched relentless attacks, while Shen Qingzhu's long spear, though swung with ferocious might, was clearly reaching its physical limit.
"Qingzhu!" Lin Qiye roared, a formidable aura erupting from his body. Like a phantom, he plunged into the midst of the scorpion monsters, swinging his sword in a half-moon arc that cleaved several of them in two like blades of grass. Black blood splashed onto the sand with a sizzle, releasing a pungent odor.
Hearing Lin Qiye's voice, Shen Qingzhu caught a glimpse of him with a flash of astonishment and disbelief. "Qiye? It's really you!" His voice was hoarse and weak, yet tinged with a surge of emotion.
Lin Qiye did not reply; his entire focus remained locked on the enemies before him. Darting gracefully, he slashed his sword continuously, each strike piercing precisely into the vital spots of the scorpion monsters. Sensing Lin Qiye's formidable strength, the creatures began to change tactics, abandoning blind attacks in favor of attempting to encircle both Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu.
"Be careful, Qiye—these scorpions have lethal poison," Shen Qingzhu warned. Bracing his body, he gripped his spear once more and stood back-to-back with Lin Qiye, preparing for the next wave of attacks.
Lin Qiye gave a slight nod, well aware of how troublesome these scorpion monsters were. Their carapaces were as hard as iron, making ordinary attacks difficult to penetrate. Furthermore, they moved swiftly and coordinated seamlessly; the slightest carelessness would result in a strike from their venomous tails. Taking a deep breath, he channeled his Spiritual Power into the blade, causing it to flare brilliantly with a layer of radiant starlight wrapping around the metal.
"Starlight Sky-Breaking Slash!" Lin Qiye shouted, leaping high into the air and bringing a massive arc of sword light down upon the swarm. The blade light swept like a giant scythe, instantly splitting the pack of monsters in two. Those touched by the radiance erupted one after another, turning into billowing clouds of black smoke.
Seeing this, the remaining scorpion monsters fell back, their eyes flickering with fear and hesitation. Yet, driven by some unseen urge, they soon charged at Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu once more. Lin Qiye's eyes hardened, for he knew someone must be manipulating these creatures from behind the scenes. Exchanging a taciturn glance with Shen Qingzhu, the two of them lunged simultaneously into the monster pack.
Amidst the fierce combat, Lin Qiye spotted a larger chieftain tucked away within the swarm. This leader boasted more vibrant coloration and a thicker tail stinger, lingering behind the frontlines to direct the attacks of the others. A thought sparked in Lin Qiye's mind, and he resolved to take out the leader first.
Feigning an attack on nearby foot-soldiers, he suddenly burst into motion, dashing toward the chieftain like a Ghost. Sensing the danger, the leader snapped open its massive pincers to clamp down on him. Lin Qiye flickered aside to evade the grip, then thrust his sword straight toward the creature's eyes. Reacting with startling speed, the chieftain lashed out with its tail stinger. Prepared for this, Lin Qiye blocked the stinger with his blade and used the impact to vault onto the creature's back.
He drove the sword deep into the chieftain's spine and twisted it with all his might. Letting out a piercing shriek, the monster thrashed wildly, trying to buck him off. Lin Qiye maintained a tight grip on the hilt, continuously pouring his Spiritual Power into the weapon. The sword glowed ever brighter, inflicting increasingly devastating wounds upon the beast.
Seeing their leader under attack, the other scorpion monsters abandoned their assault on Shen Qingzhu and surged toward Lin Qiye. Seizing the opening to catch his breath, Shen Qingzhu saw his friend in danger and charged into the fray without hesitation. Unleashing his signature technique, "Spear Arts: Dragon's Shadow," his weapon transformed into a flurry of illusions, plunging into the monster ranks like a dragon breaking out to sea, buying precious time for Lin Qiye.
Covered by Shen Qingzhu, Lin Qiye finally managed to slay the chieftain. With its death, the remaining scorpion monsters lost their coordination and scattered in all directions. Leaping down from the carcass, Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu exchanged a look, both reading the shared relief of having cheated death in each other's eyes.
"Qiye, I never expected to run into you here." Shen Qingzhu looked at him with complex emotions swirling in his gaze, his body swaying unsteadily as the severity of his injuries caught up to him.
Lin Qiye quickly rushed to steady him. "Don't speak yet—let me heal you." He channeled his Spiritual Power into Shen Qingzhu's body to stabilize his condition. As he treated him, Lin Qiye discovered that the injuries were far worse than he had imagined; a strange poison was spreading through his friend's veins, and if left uncleared, it would prove fatal.
Frowning deeply, Lin Qiye retrieved a detoxification gemstone from his robe—one he had acquired in the ruins and kept precisely for emergencies. Pressing the gem against Shen Qingzhu's wound, he watched as it emitted a gentle glow, slowly drawing the poison out from within.
After a tense effort, Shen Qingzhu's condition finally stabilized. Looking gratefully at Lin Qiye, he said, "Qiye, I owe you my life for this."
Lin Qiye shook his head. "We're brothers; there's no need for that. But how did you end up here?"
Shen Qingzhu's gaze dimmed. "Ever since the catastrophe, I've been searching for survivors and ways to fight back against the Gods. During one of my expeditions, I learned that a Divine Artifact rests within this desert—one that might aid our resistance. That's why I came, though I never expected to run into these scorpion monsters."
A thought stirred in Lin Qiye's heart. "A Divine Artifact? What kind?"
Producing a tattered sheepskin scroll from his tunic, Shen Qingzhu handed it over. "It records information about the artifact, though it's incomplete. All we know is that it lies within an Ancient Temple deep in the desert."
Examining the blurred writing and diagrams on the scroll, Lin Qiye felt a surge of hope. "No matter what, we have to try. Having more Divine Artifacts gives us an extra edge in our fight against the Gods."
After taking a brief rest, the two resumed their journey deeper into the desert. Along the way, they supported one another, sharing their respective experiences since parting ways. Upon learning of Lin Qiye's encounter in the mysterious ruin, Shen Qingzhu expressed deep admiration for his new sword. In turn, Lin Qiye learned from Shen Qingzhu about the state of other regions, realizing that many survivors were still stubbornly resisting the oppression of the Gods.
After marching through the desert for several days, they finally caught sight of a faint, ancient structure in the distance. The Ancient Temple was heavily eroded by wind and sand, yet its former glory remained discernible. Its heavy doors were tightly sealed, carved all over with mysterious runes and patterns that seemed to recount its ancient history.
Stepping before the temple gates, Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu felt a powerful restrictive force radiating from the wood. When Lin Qiye reached out to touch the door, a current-like sensation coursed through his entire body, forcing him to pull his hand back instantly.
"This restriction is strong; we need to find a way to break it," Lin Qiye said with a frown.
Studying the runes closely, Shen Qingzhu noted certain similarities to ancient restrictive scripts he had seen in old texts. "I think I have a way, but it will take some time." Retrieving a set of tools and materials from his pack, he set to work attempting to unravel the magic on the gates.
Lin Qiye stood guard vigilantly, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings to ward off any approaching dangers. Just as Shen Qingzhu became fully engrossed in cracking the seal, a patch of dark clouds suddenly gathered overhead. Thunder rumbled within the clouds as jagged bolts of lightning began to strike toward the temple.
"Look out, danger!" Lin Qiye shouted, grabbing Shen Qingzhu and pulling him to the side of the temple. The lightning bolts slammed relentlessly into the vicinity, kicking up clouds of dust and sand. Gripping his sword tightly, Lin Qiye glared up at the sky in vigilance.
"It looks like these strikes are targeting us—or perhaps the temple itself," Shen Qingzhu said with a grim expression.
Nodding, Lin Qiye replied, "Regardless, we can't let them destroy the temple. We have to stop that lightning." Looking down at his weapon, an idea struck him. He channeled his Spiritual Power into the blade and hurled it straight up toward the dark clouds. The sword transformed into a streak of light, rushing into the sky. Upon nearing the clouds, it unleashed a tremendous surge of power, colliding directly with the lightning. In an instant, the sky erupted in a brilliant glare as the force of the lightning and the blade intertwined, forming a massive vortex of energy.
Concentrating fully, Lin Qiye maintained control over the sword to counter the lightning storm. Shen Qingzhu did not waste a second either, using the distraction to accelerate his decryption of the barrier. Through Lin Qiye's sustained effort, the lightning's assault gradually weakened, and the dark clouds began to disperse. At the same time, Shen Qingzhu successfully found the method to break the seal, pushing the temple doors wide open.
Recalling his sword, Lin Qiye stepped inside alongside Shen Qingzhu. The interior was dark and damp, permeated by an ancient and mystical aura. Ancient murals lined the walls, depicting various mythological tales and sacrificial rites. In the center of the hall rested a massive stone platform, atop which sat a Divine Artifact radiating a mysterious glow. Shaped like a shield, its surface was densely covered in intricate runes and patterns that pulsed with light, seeming to harbor infinite power.
"That's it!" Shen Qingzhu exclaimed with excitement. He strode toward the platform, but just as he drew close, a deep, resonant growl echoed through the temple, chilling the air.
"Watch out!" Lin Qiye yelled, pulling Shen Qingzhu behind him and locking his eyes on the shadows. Emerging from the gloom were several gigantic monsters. Resembling lions, they each sported three horns atop their heads, green light glowing within their eyes as they exhaled puffs of black smoke.
"It seems this Divine Artifact has a Guardian. Looks like we have another tough fight on our hands." Lin Qiye tightened his grip on the sword, bracing himself for battle.